[Intro] Backpack Tags on Shoes still squeak when I walk through the hall They say, "Slow down" Why would I? First lap kid with a starter stride [Verse 1] New kid, late bell, hoodie on, lunch tray Last pick, back row, scribblin' my upgrade Math sheet, daydream, margin full of mixtapes Teacher talk, I’m talkin’ to my future on a split page Broke screen phone, cracked like my hometown Group chat poppin’, I’m the joke, I’m the ghost now Bike chain rusted, pockets full of rundown Still I saw a throne in the dust on the playground Hand-me-down jeans, little bit too baggy Posters on my wall of the greats, made me aggy Looked in the mirror, said, "Why not you, actually?" Heart beat tappin’ out a plan in the backseat Late nights, whisper so my parents stay sleep Plugged in, writing every word like a break free Everybody laughin’ at the dream, say it won’t be Funny how the "won’t be" turned me to the whole thing [Pre-Chorus] I was runnin' in place, same view, same lane Now I’m chasin’ the bus, then I’m racin' the train From the corner of the class to the center of the frame They said, "Kid, stay quiet" I said, "Say my name" [Chorus] Starter kid, turned it to a starter pistol (pow) Every little doubt, now it’s barely even whisper (shh) Wrote it in the notebook, now I’m writin’ in the pixels Now they all run with me when I’m whistlin' the signal Starter kid, turned it to a starter pistol (yeah) I was in the bleachers, now I’m center of the picture They were talkin’ small, now they talk about the vision When that gun go off, I’m already in position [Verse 2] Okay, fast lane, fast talk, heart rate match it Snack-pack money, flipped that to a classic Chorus in my head while I’m loopin’ through the traffic Bike spokes singin’ every line like a habit Locker full of lyrics, got a folder for the failures Every single L just a letter in my layers "Who you think you are?" Same friends, same prayers Now they all stare, same chairs, new player Look, lunch table turned to a boardroom I was writin’ on the desk, now it’s war room Every doodle was a blueprint, pure proof That a daydream can detour you From the bored view to the world tour preview Turn "please, dude" to "please, dude, we need you" I was tryna fit in, now the fit brand-new Got 'em checkin’ every angle like a scan-through [Pre-Chorus] I was runnin' in place, same view, same lane Now I’m chasin’ the bus, then I’m racin' the train From the corner of the class to the center of the frame They said, "Kid, stay quiet" I said, "Say my name" [Chorus] Starter kid, turned it to a starter pistol (pow) Every little doubt, now it’s barely even whisper (shh) Wrote it in the notebook, now I’m writin’ in the pixels Now they all run with me when I’m whistlin' the signal Starter kid, turned it to a starter pistol (yeah) I was in the bleachers, now I’m center of the picture They were talkin’ small, now they talk about the vision When that gun go off, I’m already in position [Bridge] [Beat drops to piano and bass] Same hallway Same small town Only thing that ever changed I don’t back down They said, "Wait your turn" I said, "Watch this now" (watch this now) First lap, last
